Musical educational toy



April 15, 1930. j i. CASH 1,754,459

` MUS'ICALEDUCATIONAL TOY Filed Dec. 3l, 19,28

1N V EN TOR.

117'A [za Cask BY e A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 15, 1930 PATENT OFFICE IDA CASH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK MUSICAL EDUCATIONAL TOY Application filed December 31, 1928. Serial No. 329,598.

The present invention shows a further iinprovenient of my invention for which I filed a patent application on November 13, 1928, Serial No. 319,123.

The invention has for an object the provision of a device of the class mentioned, which is of simple durable construction, desii'able in use and efcient in action, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The invention proposes the use of a flat base provided with parallel vertical projecting'spaced ribs arranged for simulating the lines of a musical staff, the openings or grooves between the ribs simulating the spaces between the lines of the staff. Musical symbols are provided with a pair of bottom parallel and spaced resilient projections arranged for being forced upon any of the said ribs or in the grooves between the ribs so as to frictionally maintain fixed positions.

r These musical symbols may be clefs, notes,

flats, Sharps, naturals, bars, etc., and may be placed upon the musical staff in various desired positions for enjoyment of a child and f for teaching the child the reading of music.

Extra lines may be added to the natural staffl so that the musical symbols may be engaged above or below as is desired. The device may be modified so that the ribs and the spaces between the ribs are movably arranged in a vertical direction and connected for operating a sounding device tuned to give the notes indicated by the specific lines or spaces. The musical symbols may be engaged upon the lines or the spaces and when manually pressed downwards move the vsaid lines or spaces downwards for giving the musical note represented.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following-description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are milf@ par? ticularly set'forth, l

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a base board for simulating a staff constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a musical symbol for use upon the base board.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a musical symbol constructed according to a modified form of the device.

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing another modified forni of the device, and showing it applied upon the base board.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3, but disclosing further modified forms.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Ia block of further modified forni for use upon a musical symbol.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the base board with ledger lines and the attaching inea-ns at the bottoinof the stem of the note. Y

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a staff1 constructed according to modified form.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 10-1O of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line11-11 of Fig. 10.

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a flat base made of wood, metal or other suitable material and provided with a plurality of parallel verticall projecting spaced ribs 11. The spaces between these ribs are indicated by numerals 12 and may hereafter be referred to as grooves. Preferably the tops of the ribs are painted black for simulating the lines of a staff and the grooves are painted white for simulating the spaces between the lines.

In Fig. 2A a musical symbol 13 has been illus- Y trated formed with 'a pair .of longitudinal spaced grooves 14 on its bottom side and rubber tubesv 15 are forced into these grooves 14 and are attached against displacement` preferably by glue. The distance between the inner sides of the pair of rubber tubes 15 is slightly less than the'width of the ribs 11 lso that the musical symbol 13 may be forced upon the musical scale with the rubber tubes 1.5 0aeach .Side @t one particular rib ll and thus maintain a stationary position. The distance from the outer side of one of the tubes to the outer side of the other tube l5 is slightly'more than the width of a groove l2 so that both rubber tubes 15 may be forced into one of the grooves 12 and frictionally hold the musicalisymbol in a stationary position. This arrangement permits the musical symbol to be engaged upon the lines of the staff or between the lines as desired.

In the modified form of` the device illustrated in Fig. 3 a pair of solid blocks 15 have been shown embedded in the musical symbol 13. These solid blocks arey made 'from-rubber or other resilient material and the distances between the inner faces and the outer laces are similar tothose described relative to Fig. 2.

In the modilied form of the devicefillustrated in Fig. l one solid block 1'6 has been shown attached to the'bottom of the musical symbol 13. This solid block is provided with a-central groove 17 so as to form av pairot ribs 15a. One of the ribs 11 ofthe staff is y" shown engaged Within the groove17 for supporting the musical'symbol 13. The dimension from the outer face of one of the ribs 15a to the outer facev of the other rib is such that the block 16 may be engaged Withinr one of the grooves 12 and'similarly support the musical symbol 13.

In the modified form of` the devicey illustrated in Fig. 5 a block 16 has been shown partially embedded kwithin a musical symbol 13a. When thisy musical symbolis engaged upon the scale it'rests against thetops of the ribs 11. In other respects the operation of thisform is similar to that showniin' Fig. 4.

In the modilied form of the device illustrated in Fig. 6 themusical symbol 13" has been illustrated with an end recess 18 and the block 16 is glued Within this recess; In other respects thisform of the device is similar to the previous forms.

In Fig. 7 a modified form'of a resilient block has been shown forattachmentl on the bottom of a musical'symboliand'consists of a main portion 19 and projecting ribs 20. These ribs are-spaced from each other for providinga central groove" 21. The ribs 20 areformed withcentral openings 22 so that they are hollow and.. more resilient which quality ladds to their functioning, forthelpu-r'- pose about described.

In Fig. Sledger extension-l lOafis attached to the main base board l'and the musical symbol13is attached: tothe clef by anysuitable' attaching:l means above' describedt which is secured tothe under side ofthe' steml of the musical symbol.

In the modified form` of' thedevice illustratedin Figs. 9,110' andl 11y a frame'f'has been illustrated provided with a` plurality'of parallel and:v sp ac'ed'irectangularv apertures 12.4'.

l Large-bars '2F are-engaged: within: alternate apertures 24 and small bars 26 are engaged in the remaining apertures. The large bars are merely of greater height and have their top edges painted black for simulating the lines of a musical stati". The bars 26 are preferably painted white on the top and simulate the spaces between the lines-oi:l the stati'.

Eachl ofy these bars have a-rod 27 attached to .their lower sides. In Fig. 10 only one side of the device has been shown, but the other side is symmetrical to this side. rlhe rods 27 have vertical-portions 27 slidably mounted in standards 28 attached upon the frame 23. Springs 29 are coaxially mounted on the rod portions 27 and act between the standards 28 and the bars. These springs normally hold the bars in positions as shown in Fig. 11i. A )lurality of bellows 30are mountedon thc ottoni of the frame 23 and each bellows has a pipe 31 representing a particular note. The bars 27 act upon the bellows so that when the blocks 25, 26 are depressed, thebellows are operated Jfor sounding the note of their pipe 81.

In operation oil theldevice, the musical symbols are engaged upon the lines 251 or the spaces 26, said lines andspaces-in this particular form of the device being in reality bars 25V and'26.' The musical symbols may be vdepressed for forcing the bars 25', 26 downwards so that a child playing with the devicemay also learn the tones simulated'by each'ofthe musical symbols.

It is to be understood thatthe numeral13 refers to any musical symbolsuch as notes, bars, strokes, clefs, flats, Sharps, naturals, rests, ledger lines, measure timingnumerals, etc.

A- plurality of base members 10 may be attached together along their side, bottom or top edges lay-joining them at edge grooves 10.

While I have shown andld'esc'ribed the pre-l lios ferred embodiment ofmy invention', it is to be understood' that I do not limit myself to the precise constructionherein disclosedand the right is reserved to all changes and moditications coming withinthe'scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus describedmy invention, what Iclaimas new, and desire to secure by United StatesILet-ters .Patenti is.:-

1. In combination with musical; board 2. Inl combination withz musicali board having `parallel ribs simulatingll thek liniestofi a stati?, a,- musical symbol; and a' pairfo'f--'spacedparallel rubber tubes attached on` the "bottom offthe symbol for engagngthe ribs 'and .held

ing the symbol in place tielxmrd; the?.

lis

izo

iis

distance between the rubber tubes being slightly less than the width ol' said ribs.

3. In combination with a musical board having parallel ribs simulating the lines of a stati, a musical symbol, and a pair of spaced parallel rubber tubes attached on the bottom of the symbol for engaging the ribs and hold ing the symbol in place on theboard, the distance between the rubber tubes being slightly less than the width of said ribs, and the dist-ance between the 4outer sides of the tube being slightly more than the width of the spaces between adjacent ribs.

4. A device of the class described, cornprising a fiat base with parallel projecting ribs spaced to provide grooves, and a musical symbol with a pair of projecting resilient .members adapted to engage on the ribs or in the said grooves, said resilient members being rubber tubes attached on the bottom oi the symbol.

In testimony whereof I have alixed my signature.

IDA CASI-I. 

